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Bronte sisters

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Peter Smith

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Last summer I did a picture of the Bronte sisters as a demo, based on the only picture of them from their lifetime painted by their brother. Frankly it's not very good but it's all we've got. My picture wasn't very good either, the black background killed it and the skin tones were too pale. It came close to being taken to the tip but the tip is closed until Monday so instead I've repainted it. To start with I didn't change much apart from the colours but when I looked at it I thought they looked really miserable. So I decided to make them smile.... The look a bit more cheerful now, but I have a question. My sisters look like they are wearing lipstick because the lips are a shade of red in the original painting. However I've got my doubts, it makes them look very modern....I think I need to repaint them in skin tones. Does anyone know if lipstick would have been used in those days in a fairly remote corner of Yorkshire? I probably need to tone down that blue background too - any thoughts?

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by Peter Smith

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Peter Smith

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I've answered my own question - when your dad was the local vicar you most certainly did not wear lipstick in those days!!  I've redone the lips in a darker skin tone and also repainted the blue background in a more subdued shade. it's too dark to take photo's now (roll on summer!) so I'll do that tomorrow. I'd still appreciate any comments 

Denise Cat

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Peter, cosmetics of a sort would have been available. Mainly actors and ladies of the street would consider using them. It would have been fashionable for natural looks. Pale skin. A rouge would have been used for lips or cheeks during this era very minimally if at all. They certainly look happier with a big smile
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Peter Smith

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I hope so Denise! I think this will do now.   

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by Peter Smith

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Peter Smith

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I've been told by my friends at art group that I cannot under any circumstances take any paintings to the tip! There doesn't seem much point just adding to the pile that is already filling up the garage....no one wants them...but what's the alternative. They'll all go in a skip when I'm dead anyway. Sorry to be morbid but does anyone else have the same problem? I paint quickly and produce four or five paintings every week. Last year I sold two. I do give some away but nevertheless the pile keeps getting bigger. I'm not going to stop painting because I love it so I have no idea what the answer is. I suppose I could just quietly go the tip and not tell anyone!

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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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I started to paint on New Year Day but couldn’t get into it , decided to go through my old paintings and sort them out I ended up with three piles. One for the skip , the largest as I was very ruthless and sone were ten or more years old , the second pile were painting I like but are to s all for my mounts or are odd sizes but reasonable looking work . The third lot around twenty were ones I really like and family members like , these I put not A4 white mounts and store them in a plastic sleeve to keep them clean, information on the back give details of the size , title, and year painted and by whom .  No have a lot more space and it’s actually inspired me to get on with some more work.
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Peter Smith

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Don't tell Lucy at Melton art group Paul, she'll be very cross!
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Lewis Cooper

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It’s a fact of life, you can’t keep everything.  I’ve sold a few over the years, more or less by accident.  Apart from a few years in the late 70’s/early 80’s, I never made much effort to sell my stuff…I certainly can’t be bothered now.  I draw and paint simply because I like doing it.  I’ve 2 large portfolio cases plus 2 smaller ones that’ll take up to A3 size pics.  They are FULL.   Roughly each year or so I get books printed of my work…nothing grand…I just use those printers who normally produce family photo albums.  I have nine of these books now.  Just for a change I got my pics printed on playing cards this year…I just whacked my pics into the app they supplied.  The app adds the suite symbols and numbers.  OK, small pics, but I was pleased how they came out.  Here’s a photo of one of the packs… I’ve photos of my pics on my computer, at least half of my works only exist as photos, or as pics in the photobooks…the ACTUAL works have been dumped, or I’ve drawn/painted something on the back.   My sons tell me not to bin anything, but they don’t know how much I’ve got.  They MIGHT keep the books, playing cards, sketchbooks and a FEW of the actual paintings…but once I’ve popped my clogs I’ll be past caring.  For now I just keep doing what I like to do, and that’s draw and paint.
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Peter Smith

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I love the cards Lew! I did a book (self published through KDP) before I went into hospital because I didn't know if I was going to survive. if I hadn't this would be the only record of most of my pictures. It seems rather self indulgent now but it didn't feel like that at the time.  

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by Peter Smith

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Lewis Cooper

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My sausage fingers double posted.

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by Lewis Cooper

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Lewis Cooper

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Since I do the same thing, I don’t think it self indulgent at all.  Luckily my sons and my grandson are interested in what I do, and want me to keep all my work.  That’s not practical.  They will HAVE to dump most of it.  The photobooks and playing cards are a very convenient way to ‘keep’ my art.